The University of Benin, has ordered the dismantling of the statue of Lady Justice, creatively reimagined by a sculpture undergraduate.
TheNewsGuru reports that the statue, which stood in front of the Students’ Hostel at the university’s Ekenwan Campus, Benin City, was pulled down by the university management, displeased with the symbolism.
However, unlike the traditional representation of Lady Justice, which often depicted as a blindfolded woman holding a sword and a set of scales, symbolising fairness and impartiality, the student’ sculptor replaced the usual scales with a bag of money.
The blindfold suggests that justice should be delivered without prejudice, while the scales represent balanced evidence assessment.
However, the student’s version — blindfolded and clutching a money bag — pointedly deviated from tradition, sparking debate over freedom of expression versus institutional decorum.
As of press time, the university had not issued an official statement regarding the removal of the statue.